MOTORISTS have been warned to expect disruption as work on a £330,000 road resurfacing programme starts outside Poole Hospital today.

Engineers are set to start work on Longfleet Road, which will be affected by lane closures up until the weekend. Emergency access to the hospital will be maintained throughout the project.

From 7pm today until 6am tomorrow vehicles will be unable to travel westwards towards the town centre from the hospital's emergency access ramp to Elizabeth Road.

Then, from 7am tomorrow until 4pm on Saturday, vehicles will not be able to travel eastwards from Elizabeth Road towards the Shah signal junction.

Borough of Poole (BOP) engineering manager John Rice said: "Longfleet Road is a very busy road. The work has been planned to start after the current SGN works on Mount Pleasant Road have been completed.

"We've also liaised closely with the hospital, South West Ambulance Service and the bus operators to minimise disruption to road users, residents and patients."

Officials decided against carrying out the resurfacing throughout 24-hours as it would have caused "unacceptable disturbance" to local residents and hospital patients.

Mr Rice warned: "We recognise that this essential work will cause some unavoidable disruption to road users and would ask motorists to allow extra time for their journeys."

Access to the maternity hospital via Shaftesbury Road will be maintained throughout the project, and mobile message signs will be used to keep motorists up to date.

The footpath will also be resurfaced and a new shared pedestrian and cycle path will be installed from Fernside Road to Green Park.

The wider resurfacing programme, lasting until April next year, will also include works on Sandbanks Road, Blandford Road, Queen Anne Drive, Magna Road, Alder Road, Wimborne Road and Ringwood Road.

BOP portfolio holder for planning, regeneration and transport Cllr Ian Potter said: "In our most recent Shaping Poole survey residents identified road and pavement repairs as the highest priority in the list of things that most need improving in the local area.

"We are committed to achieving this and the works on Longfleet Road form part of a wider resurfacing programme.

"I would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience while these improvement works are carried out."